AL Notes: Tigers, Yankees, Indians

Dave Dombrowski of the Tigers is a top general manager, but his struggles to assemble a good bullpen have been on display in his team’s ALDS series against the Orioles, Joel Sherman of the New York post writes. Notably, Sherman writes that the Tigers nearly completed a trade with the Red Sox for Andrew Miller in July. The Red Sox had asked for a package of players, and the Tigers agreed to that request. By that point, though, the Orioles had agreed to give up starting pitching prospect Eduardo Rodriguez, so the Red Sox sent Miller to Baltimore. Here’s more from throughout the American League.

The Indians could consider trading from their depth at shortstop, Terry Pluto of the Plain Dealer writes. Not only do they have top prospect Francisco Lindor, they also have 22-year-old Jose Ramirez (who made a good impression defensively at the big-league level this season) and 23-year-old Erik Gonzalez, who hit well at Class A+ Carolina and Double-A Akron. Pluto writes that Gonzalez makes the best trade candidate for the Indians, since he is older than the other two players and can play a variety of other positions.

Comments

Yeah, I initially thought Baltimore was giving up way too much. But considering that Miller fortified an already good bullpen and Detroit is proving a starting rotation in nothing in the playoffs without a good bullpen, it seems like a solid investment for Baltimore. They’re right now running on all cylinders and look like a championship team.

When the Tigers lose playoff series, they don’t just lose. They fall apart. It’s hard to really advocate for DD’s dismissal, but he’s constructed a team that’s failed to execute with years of a weak AL Central and he’s made a team that will be increasingly top heavy as the years go on. A switch might be for the best.

It’s Ausmus and the pitching coach (and bullpen coach, and any other coach who interacts with the pitchers) who really need to go. Something must be up with their pitcher training, because Nathan and Soria were so much better in Texas, and Smyly got way better as soon as he went to Tampa.

But you can’t ignore the success of Verlander before this year, Fister, Scherzer, Sanchez. I wouldn’t let go of Ausmus because their rotation has been phenonimal over the years, it’s the bullpen that has always been terrible, even under Leyland.

I absolutely agree with you, I don’t necessarily believe DD should be run out of town yet, but he cannot be blamed for all of the bullpen woes, he has brought in several proven arms to anchor the bullpen, but something in the Detroit air makes them all flame out when they get there

I actually think he can be blamed for the bullpen woes. Nathan was an expensive choice for closer who ate up a larger portion of their bullpen funds than they should have allowed. He can’t be blamed for Nathan’s woes, but trading Fister to free up funds to sign Nathan was a poor choice when he left the rest of the pen vulnerable.

He wanted the flashiest toy in the store and he got it. And then it broke.

Nathan is at the end of his career. Soria is not what he used to be. Joba will never be the 98-mph fireballer again. These are not late-inning, big-time relievers. It’s not their fault they’re being put into positions they’re unsuited for. That’s on DD.

Nathan was lights out all last year. Rondon was a huge loss. Chamberlain was great the first half, then fell apart. Soria was terrific until his first inning as a Tiger.
That’s not on the GM or pitching coach.

I agree they will go after Robertson. It would also be an interesting choice. There seems to be an culture of failure surrounding closers in Detroit and Robertson is not lights out. I mean the man’s nickname is Houdini– which is only funny when he gets out of the trouble he seems to put himself into all the time. In Detroit, where closers seem to lose their confidence–maybe it’s a coaching thing?– I could see Robertson being a danger to implode.

With the Tigers pen, it is not a one pitcher fix. They are running out of time to win with this group, which is a team built to win now. As is, they will lose Scherzer, but they’ll have Price and I’m pretty sure the Royals not about to turn into a juggernaut. Their owner is not getting any younger, so he should spend some money on fixing the pen. That means at least two arms. Robertson and Miller, or Robertson and Gegerson, or Miller and Gregerson, or others. (I haven’t seen the complete list of available relievers.) What they have now is broke.

With Boston last year and the Royals and Orioles this year, it’s apparent that teams are going to prioritize relievers more than ever this winter. They’re the new “heroes” as it were. Andrew Miller is going to be making more money than he probably ever dreamed about.